How much energy does Uruguay need?

The Solution to Intermittency Renewable sources—hydroelectric power, wind, biomass, and solar energy—now cover up to 98% of Uruguay’s energy needs in a normal year and still over 90% in a very dry one, according to Méndez.

What is the future of energy in Uruguay?

Credit: FRV Future Renewable Vision. After hydropower and wind, biomass is another important energy source, accounting for 15-20% of the electricity Uruguay produces. Wood pulp plants, for example, are now burning organic waste to produce energy for the grid, turning what was an environmental liability into an energy asset.

Should Uruguay switch to green electricity?

Uruguay, one of South America’s smallest countries, is attracting outsized attention over its transition to green electricity. It didn’t happen simply by building a bunch of wind and solar farms, the architect of the strategy said, but by rethinking the entire energy system. And, he said, other countries could do that too.

How much of Uruguay's energy comes from fossil fuels?

Back then, he said, about half of Uruguay’s energy mix came from imported fossil fuels, at a cost that at times exceeded 2% of GDP. The country was also experiencing some energy shortages.

Does Uruguay have a wind farm?

Cover Image: Wind energy supplies up to 40% of Uruguay’s power needs. This wind farm, operated by the public utility UTE, is located in the southern Uruguayan department of Maldonado. Credit: UTE

How much electricity does Montes del Plata produce?

The Montes del Plata wood pulp mill generates enough electricity to power 200,000 households, according to the company’s website. Credit: Montes del Plata. These days, as Executive Director of a nonprofit called the Ivy Association, Méndez is helping other countries navigate the energy transition.